Fascinating Potpourri II

September 27: History of the Texas Rangers – presented by a representative from the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum, Waco, TX. (In Person)

October 4: Preserving Nature: Pecan Springs Karst Preserve – Carolyn Stephens (In Person)

Learn about Hill Country Conservancy’s (HCC) efforts to protect land and water at the new Pecan Springs Karst Preserve. Located near Jarrell, this 1,205-acre preserve features environmentally sensitive land donated to HCC. With rapid growth in Williamson County, the preserve lies in an area expecting 24,000 new homes in the next decade. Learn how HCC is restoring this land and making it accessible to the public.

Carolyn grew up riding horses in the Hill Country, fostering her love for the outdoors. As the Outreach & Engagement Manager for Hill Country Conservancy, she builds community partnerships to raise awareness of environmental pressures and engage in conservation efforts.

October 11: There’s No Business Like Show Business – Ren Weedon (In Person, On-Demand)

Ren will tell the “inside story” of some of the best loved movies and long-running television shows of the 60’s and 70’s. Join him as he recaps his career as a studio grip for 20^th Century Fox and his interaction with some of the biggest stars of the day including Barbra Streisand, Jason Robards, Jane Mansfield, Charlton Heston, Robert Goulet, and James Earl Jones. Participants will be encouraged to interact and ask questions.

Ren Weedon, a former Navy Seal, worked for 20th Century Fox Studios for 5 years as a studio grip after leaving the Navy. During his time with Fox, he worked on developing camera mounts for cars used in the movies and TV and when the studio closed in 1970, his work with them led him to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

October 18: What To Know (About Donation) Before You Go – S. Lemuel Bradshaw (In Person, On-Demand)

This presentation provides information on organ, eye, and tissue donation and the Donate Life Texas Registry. It will show how the decisions of registered donors and donor families can help to save and heal 75 or more recipients. It will address the most common myths concerning donation and provide instruction on how the audience might make their own legally binding donor designation.

Lemuel Bradshaw is a 2-time heart recipient, whose career began as a volunteer for Donate Life Texas, in 1999. The decisions of two families of heroes have allowed him to raise three daughters, attend the University of Texas, and welcome 10 grandchildren. Now, as the Director of Communications for United Tissue Resources, he works to give others the second chance that he was given.

 October 25: How a Fish Changed the World – Ron Snell (In Person)

The humble cod enabled global exploration, slavery, and vast riches. It impacted geopolitics and then, due to human carelessness, it nearly went extinct.

Ron Snell has neither relevant education nor experience in this topic. He does, however, have a curiosity that takes him deeply into subjects that catch his attention, and this is one of those. He has previously presented for Lifelong Learners GTX about leaf cutter ants, European eels, and the history of musical instruments.

November 1: Bigger Than Baseball: Discovering the Real Magic of the Minor Leagues – Tim Jackson (In Person, On-Demand)

As America’s pastime, professional baseball has been a fixture in communities across the country for over a century, but few understand what truly makes Minor League Baseball unique.

 Tim Jackson serves as the General Manager for the Round Rock Express Baseball Club, Triple-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Entering his 15^th season, Jackson oversees all of the day-to-day business and baseball operations of the team and works closely with the Team President on all Express sales efforts.